STUDY PROTOCOL article
Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Public Mental Health
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1586076
This article is part of the Research TopicThe Intersection of Psychology, Healthy Behaviors, and its OutcomesView all 96 articles
A Pay-It-Forward Approach to Improve Feedback Rate of HPV-Based Self-Sampling in Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women in Ethnic Minority Regions of China: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol
Provisionally accepted
- 1Inner Mongolia Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Huhhot, China
- 2Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
- 3China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- 4Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
- 5Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan Province, China
- 6Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
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Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary cause of cervical cancer, and HPV selfsampling has emerged as a novel screening method with the potential to increase screening coverage and early detection of cervical cancer. However, the implementation of HPV selfsampling in China faces several challenges, including sociocultural factors, economic burdens, and low feedback rates. This study will aim to improve the feedback rate of HPV self-sampling results through a Pay-It-Forward approach and explore its impact on HPV positivity rates and subsequent treatment compliance.2025.4.12 v2.0This study employs a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, enrolling women aged 24 and older who have not received the HPV vaccine and have not undergone HPV self-sampling or cervical cancer screening in the past 12 months. Participants will be randomly divided into a control group (free distribution of HPV self-sampling kits) and an intervention group (pay up front for HPV self-sampling). The prepayment amount is 20 RMB, which is fully refunded upon completion of the self-sampling and feedback of results. The primary outcome measure is the feedback rate of HPV self-sampling results. The study is conducted at maternal and child health care and family planning service centers in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with an expected enrollment of 108 participants.The Pay-It-Forward approach is expected to significantly improve the feedback rate of HPV selfsampling results by enhancing participants' psychological commitment and sense of responsibility.Additionally, this strategy may positively affect HPV positivity rates and subsequent treatment compliance. The innovation of this study lies in the first application of the Pay-It-Forward method to HPV self-sampling and the comprehensive analysis of urban-rural differences. The results of this study will provide a scientific basis for improving women's cervical health awareness and optimizing HPV self-sampling intervention strategies, thereby promoting the widespread application of HPV self-sampling in cervical cancer screening.Trial registration: This study registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ChiCTR2500095770) on January 13, 2025.
Keywords: HPV-based self-sampling, Pay-It-Forward, Feedback rate, Randomized controlled trail, ethnic minority regions
Received: 02 Mar 2025; Accepted: 30 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhou, Bao, GUAN, Li, Yang, Zhu, Li and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Hui Li, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
Xiaohua Wang, Inner Mongolia Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Huhhot, 010020, China
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